Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Andrea Kane

brother?”
    “My cousin.”
    “Frederick’s son?”
    “No, Niles’s.” Cassidy gestured in Niles’s direction. “Frederick and Emily never had children.”
    “Then that branch of the family’s gone.”
    A reflective nod. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but yes. Niles is Grandfather’s eldest now.”
    “That must drop the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
    “In business, you mean?” Cassidy looked amused. “Niles will carry it well. He thrives under pressure. Then again, I doubt he’ll get involved in the food-services division. He’s a fine-dining guy all the way. Plus, with James’s equestrian competitions, he’s on overload already.”
    “Did I hear my name?” James asked, walking back over and handing Devon a crystal glass.
    “Don’t you always?” Cassidy replied good-naturedly. “I was just telling Devon how busy your father is, between Pierson & Company and your riding.”
    “Yeah, that’s Dad. Always on the go.”
    Devon sipped at her drink, eyeing James as she did. “Cassidy mentioned equestrian competitions. What kind and where?”
    “Show jumping. And wherever they’ll have me.”
    “Ah, that’s my cue.” Cassidy gave a mock sigh. “James pretends to be modest — which is far from the truth — so I’ll toot his horn and make him sound more impressive. He’s competed at major events everywhere, including Calgary and Toronto this past fall. Right now, he’s competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. He came in second at today’s Grand Prix. We’re all sure that he and Stolen Thunder are on their way to the World Games in Aachen, and from there to Olympic Gold in Beijing.”
    “The Olympics? That
is
impressive.” Devon’s brows rose.
    “You’re right. It does sound better coming from you,” James informed his cousin. “Let’s hope your predictions come true.”
    “Are you kidding? Grandfather wouldn’t have it any other way.”
    “So you don’t work at Pierson & Company?” Devon asked, feigning ignorance.
    “Sure I do. I’m VP of sales.”
    “How do you manage that? Two demanding careers — I can barely handle one.”
    “Talent,” James replied with a teasing grin. “No, seriously, discipline and commitment. It also helps that riding is my passion.”
    “Among others,” Cassidy muttered.
    He shot her a look, then turned his charm back on Devon. “I heard you say you’re a vet. That must mean long hours.”
    “It does.”
    “Does it leave any time for fun?”
    Devon had just opened her mouth to reply, when Chomper shot up from the floor and barked, then abandoned his biscuit crumbs and bounded across the room. Following him with her gaze, Devon saw that Kerri had perched on the edge of the sofa and was drawing a picture. Chomper, evidently, had spotted her crayons and decided they were edible. He snatched two in his mouth, then took off, with Kerri in close pursuit.
    “Chomper!” Blake, who’d been concentrating on some vehement revelation Louise Chambers was in the process of confiding, broke away to go after his dog. Louise frowned as she watched him go. Her troubled stare slid briefly to Devon before she walked over to the martini pitcher on the sideboard and refilled her glass.
    Devon got the distinct feeling that whatever had just been said concerned her.
    “Great,” Cassidy noted in disgust. “Chomper’s on the run again. I hope my brother reaches him before he reaches the back door. Otherwise, Blake will be organizing the second search party of the day.”
    “I assume Chomper likes to take off.”
    “Constantly. He’s either escaping or destroying something.” Cassidy rolled her eyes. “And that’s up here at the farm. Imagine him in a Manhattan brownstone.”
    “Your brother lives in the city?”
    “Whenever he’s not up here, yes. I’m sure you can’t guess which place Chomper prefers.”
    “I’m sure I can.” As she spoke, Devon spotted Kerri returning to the living room, sans crayons. There was